How old are we?

That is the basic problem with new political players in the game small footprints in history. That is the reason the two major political parties are fighting tooth and nail even after three decades after liberation -- Bengalees fighting Bengalees. Live a plain life, and think big. Our local politics had never been broad-minded, for accommodation. This internal crowding effect is the bane of narrow minds. The approach to political culture has to be reviewed, first by the non-politicians, and then pressure the political leaders to throw out the myopic outlook. This step has to come soon, or the politicians face being cornered for a while. The forces of history are stronger than contemporary rhetoric.

Politics is a tool, like religion. It is not the message, but the channel, because the majority of the citizens might not be interested in digitalization of politics. But its ultimate analogue output at the national level. Buddhism, for example, never mentions religion or god, but it works for the non-violent adherents, through the right actions indicated in the eight-fold path. Ultimately, it is the impact of an individual on the society or social environment: the cumulative effect defines the nation.

Today we are still engrossed in ad hoc and transient issues, and do not allow the dust to settle down. The political dust could be very pervasive, resulting is asthmatic politics. We are coughing, barking and profaning. pruning and propping.. Bangladesh has become a political sanatorium of moribund ambitions. There are two handicaps: political terrorism and political hostage syndrome.

The level of political culture is not improving. There are cultures beyond mere political cultures. Politics can add to history, not subtract. or take away. No erase and rewrite-add footnotes. Who rewrite history? It is a loaded question. Toyenbee set a path: the rest is up to the players. Players cannot debar other players.

Islam travelled late into Bengal: introducing several implications, which have to be clearly proposed by the local students of cultural history. The presentations are rather opaque, and need clarifications for consistency, staring from the British period, right through the East Pakistan generation.

The question which naturally springs up in many informed minds is whether the political leadership leads or laps. It has to lead, as it forms the ruling regimes. Lag is due to inertia effect, opposed to the five wheel effect. The seriousness of this indirect responsibility is being ignored in business of day to day mundane matters and issues.

Newly emerging nations need stronger leadership with firm anchors, to prevent drifting, and erosion of confidence in public minds. The nation is drifting for decades now, with the designated path still hazy to many. The right interventions are rather lukewarm, as the neutral camps of opinion are ignored. Therefore the media has an important role to play to indicate the sense of direction.

Old order changeth, wielding place to new. In Bangladesh, some local forms of resistance are unique. This aberration is not being stemmed. Leadership without long-term vision is fused with perils.

Since 1947 the Muslims in the subcontinent have been trying to find their identity, and put a formal stamp on it. So far unsuccessful. The young generation is not reflective in this age of fast changes, based on materialistic instinct. The latter is deliberately being cultivated in the Western way of life, which is influencing the have-nots in the third world.